My uncle worked for the UN



"TWO OF MY COUSINS WERE BORN IN AFRICA"
(My uncle worked for the UN)

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 I never had the chance to meet them until I was in eighth grade. When I told my social studies teacher they had come home to the USA, she wanted them to come to our class and answer questions. I had to inform her that they lived in NYC, a 3 hour drive from where I went to shcool. She acted like she didn't believe the whole thing then!

My cousins were so into everything that was new to them here, swingsets on the school playground, our dog, the forest behind our house, etc. I really did not get a chance to ask them much.

Over the years I understood that their having been born and raised for many years in a war torn country made it not too much what they wanted to talk about. That country had been torn apart; it was called Nigeria by some and Biafra by others...

I wonder if they ever saw any elephants, I never asked.

I do observe that their birthplace influenced their lives a lot. The older of the two boys joined our army and after many terms of service, is now studying CAD on the Post 911 GI Bill. The younger one plays the drums professionally and obviously heard many a drum in his early childhood.

Africa is still mostly unfamiliar to me. Thankfully, though, my cousins have shared a bit of their memories about it here and there on their Facebook Pages. I'm always impressed!

~

My Daddy the Chef!

Photo complements of
a CHOPHOUSE in
Murphy, NC

( COOKING WITH DADDY AFTER MY SCHOOL DAYS )

My daddy was the chef and connoisseur in our family. He LOVED Italian restaurants and was known to take Sunday afternoon drives two states away to find the "bestest" ones! Mom was a world famous computer programmer, and a pioneer in her field too.  SO daddy was our chef extraordinaire.

Daddy would make steamed clams with me every day after high school. It was my job to watch them and let him know as soon as they slowly opened... then we enjoyed them with real butter, YUM!

He had a PASSION for spaghetti and sausage; he made some mean baked beans and the BEST home-made soups and stews! Everything was done the old fashioned way, no cookbook, a pinch of this, hand full of that, etc.

He had some awesome pots and pans with copper bottoms.

These days I use cast iron pots when I can, or the ones he liked to use with the copper bottoms. I find these in thrift stores. I have built a bit of mean arm muscle with the heavy iron ones too; lifting them is tough!

He didn't use crock pots or a microwave because they had not been invented yet! I use my crock pot quite often, but my microwave seldomly.

Last night I made some popcorn the old fashioned way, no microwave. You have to shake it the whole time you cook and fry it in a bit of oil, or it will stick and burn!

Soups and Stews: 

Daddy would fry the onions to a golden brown (uncovered) before adding them to these. This way we'd be sure the "onion gasses" would not overpower the more gentle flavors of other veggies.

Baked Goods:

He didn't do cakes or cookies, so I did those. I liked the simple ones you drop by the spoon on cookie sheets and bake. I do them that way even today. He liked to get things from the local bakeries best though. And eclairs topped his list (mine too)!!!

We had a huge dining room table that seated maybe 12. Daddy and mommy both enjoyed dinner parties and entertained often. We were not rich; daddy was a plumber. We were just comfortable and that is the kind of life I try to live these days in their honor, God rest their souls.


Photo complements of
a CHOPHOUSE in
Murphy, NC

Living "Outside the Box"

"Mountain Sunrise..."



Sometimes it's so hard to deal with being "way out in the middle of nowhere" (as I've been told so many times that the phrase echos in my sleep and dreams sometimes.) None the less, most days it is pure pleasure to live here. The air is fresh, the birds sing every morning, stores are available that are needed or just even wanted, galleries, rustic furniture, basketry, places to enjoy life and parks too. In fact, this IS a National Forest: The Nantahala! Then there is the Cherokee Reservation...   

So far, the only person who is making plans to visit me is my dear friend Betty from Florida. She's coming for my birthday. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

However, generally and too often, when I ask folks if they'd like to come visit, the answer is "No..." (with enough excuses to blow out six tires on the way here, should they ever finally brave it and actually decide to come).

Well... I'll just live it up in this sweet beauty, lovely natural setting and enjoy my life here. If no one other than Betty wants to share this wonderful gift of God, so be it!

~

Life "Ain't" Always What it Seems

Life "Ain't" Always What it Seems


Sometimes one expects life to be a certain way. Then it proves over and over that things "ain't" the way you want them to be.


Case in point:


One expects help, care, love and actions that prove these things exist from a certain group of folks. Usually, in good fiction books, TV and movies, they come to the rescue.  Instead, another bunch of people (strangers even) steps up to the plate, thank God!


"The Lord Shall Provide!" needs to be my LIFE motto.


Help me to know this and trust in You, my Lord, remembering this EVERY day of my life!


Amen. Thank You, Jesus.
"li'l one" 

To my Beloved



"Delicate littlest ones swimming downstream..."



To my Beloved

Oh! Sacred Spirit
to You I up my thumbs!
As I play my flute
I listen to ancient drums.

Nature calls, birds sing...
reminding me my name is "li'l one."
Everyone has a name
just as You are "The Great One."

Water ever clings to bedrocks
washing the lands clean;
everything is so beautiful
especially all You created in green.

Rainbows of color swim

gracefully downstream

knowing about Your Love

makes their eyes gleam.

Cardinals above, land in trees
settling in... once the day is done;
they always remind me
of Your precious Son.

I pray to You, Oh! Sacred Spirit
For all my dear friends;
I hope they too enjoy Your Love
so sweet which never, ever ends!
li'l one

WHAT WAS YOUR FAV SONG?

What was your fav song?

We'd sit with a root beer for hours and listen to whatever everyone chose to play because we only had enough money for the soda, if that! So we sipped it 

V-E-R-Y  

S-L-O-W-L-Y...

My fav song was "Stairway to Heaven"  by Lead Zep.

I Was Robbed While In The Hospital!

"?"

I was robbed while in the hospital! Want to talk about what it is like to be kicked when you are down? No?? I don't want to talk about it either! However, it did happen and it "ain't" fun! 

I will say it is tough living without a digital camera, computer, my favorite CD music (Deep Forest - with sounds of the rain forest in Brazil and the Native folks there too, calling to one another, drumming and singing) and all sorts of other things...

Believe it or not, that CD is what I miss MOST! There are computers and friends at the local library, I bought an old 35mm Pentax at a thrift store, but the CD? I'm going to need to search for it a lot, I have a feeling... I'll let you all know how the search goes. If I find it, I'll share it with you!

Here goes my search, be back later...

AMAZON has it!

$0.78 cents used!!! ( in very good condition)

(Here's the link below)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0000029IH/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

THANK YOU, JESUS!

(For making and rescuing my day).